Premiership Rugby 2019-20

Tigerandahalf

I thought it would be good to start another thread on this for the new season.

With London Irish back in the division and Saracens being deducted points it will be an interesting season especially with a few big Irish names involved.

The games are broadcast live on BT with an hourly highlights programme on Monday nights on C5 HD.

Bristol under Pat Lam have started well and are top of the table.

There are 12 teams -
Bath
Bristol
Exeter
Gloucester
Harlequins
Leicester
London Irish
Northampton
Sale
Saracens
Worcester
Wasps

This is a wiki link to the players moving in and out of the various clubs
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2019%E2%80%9320_Premiership_Rugby_transfers

Digifriendly

All Premiership highlights uploaded on Monday morning on Youtube.

Burkie1203

Rumblings on Twitter about Saracens and the salary cap this season.

https://twitter.com/alastaireykyn/status/1199001897958617088?s=19

prawnsambo

And from a different angle.

Clegg

More on Saracens. Premier Rugby wants to conduct a mid season audit.

https://twitter.com/owenslot/status/1199235192017358848?s=19

The Times reporting Saracens are being audited mid-season to make sure they're salary cap compliant.

irishbucsfan

Tasty

prawnsambo

You'd feel for the players except for the fact that they've been complicit in all of this. So you'd feel for the players who weren't getting the leg ups. Except they must have known about it. So you'd feel for Ethel the tea lady. I think.

prawnsambo

prawnsambo wrote: »

You'd feel for the players except for the fact that they've been complicit in all of this. So you'd feel for the players who weren't getting the leg ups. Except they must have known about it. So you'd feel for Ethel the tea lady. I think.

Do you know what all your colleagues earn? I don't.

And even if they did know about it, in the real world, would you expect them to turn whistleblower? I don't think that's a reasonable expectation.

irishbucsfan

If there are players there who weren’t getting handouts that were effectively life changing amounts of money and also didn’t know about it, then that must be an incredibly toxic environment!

Oh I’d love to be at that Christmas party!

2smiggy

A bit like the Melbourne Storm team of 10 years ago. With the salary cap they still managed to put a super team together. Of course they were found out, and stripped of 2 titles. Why not something similar happening to Saracens ?

thomond2006

Shillphen J*nes had an epic meltdown on the Times podcast. Maybe Wray invested in him too.

sydthebeat

is there any truth in the rumour that the 5.4 million pound fine is to be shared equally among the other 11 premiership clubs?

enough to cover one marquee player each

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Shillphen J*nes had an epic meltdown on the Times podcast. Maybe Wray invested in him too.

I'm listening to this now. Absolutely bizarre stuff. He sounds like he's going to start crying at the current point I'm at.

Aniya Enough Tequila

Aniya Enough Tequila wrote: »

I'm listening to this now. Absolutely bizarre stuff. He sounds like he's going to start crying at the current point I'm at.

Link más é do thoil é?

prawnsambo

Deleted User wrote: »

Link más é do thoil é?

Think it might be this one.

Jesus - the bit where he is demanding to know Eliot Daly's new salary... Absolutely no impartiality from him, Nigel Wray himself wouldn't even be so passionate and blinkered in his defence of the club and Jones has the gall to refer to himself as an 'independent journalist'.

My true opinion of the man would have a bright red card appear at the bottom corner of this post but let's just say that a person who I didn't think could slink any lower in my estimation has just charged head first through the floor.

Dallaglio and Tindell working very hard to keep their patience.

Journalist needs to become a protected term. Jesus what an awful listen.

Squidgy Black

"Exeter lost on the field of play, everyone who played would have been on the field if Nigel Wray had come in £3 million under the salary cap".

It's quite sad listening to it to be honest, he just kept barking "no" to every point was put to him.

prawnsambo

Deleted User wrote: »

Jesus - the bit where he is demanding to know Eliot Daly's new salary... Absolutely no impartiality from him, Nigel Wray himself wouldn't even be so passionate and blinkered in his defence of the club and Jones has the gall to refer to himself as an 'independent journalist'.

My true opinion of the man would have a bright red card appear at the bottom corner of this post but let's just say that a person who I didn't think could slink any lower in my estimation has just charged head first through the floor.

Dallaglio and Tindell working very hard to keep their patience.

Journalist needs to become a protected term. Jesus what an awful listen.

Logic out the window completely. Dallaglio saying he knows Daly's getting a bigger number at Sarries because he was told in negotiations and Jones wants to know how much and refuses to believe it when Dallaglio won't tell him. I mean it's so obvious that a player will tell his club that he's leaving because he got a better offer, that it shouldn't need explanation.

And it's not the money, it's the cuddly club atmosphere that's keeping them there. They can have 16 players at the RWC, but it's not the money. :rolleyes:

The funny thing about that podcast is that the professional journalist sounded like the most amateur of the three of them.

Squidgy Black

prawnsambo wrote: »

Logic out the window completely. Dallaglio saying he knows Daly's getting a bigger number at Sarries because he was told in negotiations and Jones wants to know how much and refuses to believe it when Dallaglio won't tell him. I mean it's so obvious that a player will tell his club that he's leaving because he got a better offer, that it shouldn't need explanation.

And it's not the money, it's the cuddly club atmosphere that's keeping them there. They can have 16 players at the RWC, but it's not the money. :rolleyes:

The funny thing about that podcast is that the professional journalist sounded like the most amateur of the three of them.

He'd make a great politician in fairness. He started off saying they didn't breach the salary cap and it was just an accounting error, to then saying they did breach the salary cap but it doesn't matter anyways because even if they were under the cap they'd still have all of their players because they're not there for the money.

thomond2006

SaRaCeNs PlAyErS ArE tHeRe BeCaUsE oF cUlTuRe.

irishbucsfan

I would love it if Tgey get another fine for still being over. Just to see Jones crying.

God I hope they have to release players. The salary cap mode they’re using is quite simplistic, in American sports each payers salary is counted in real time and you can’t field teams over the cap at all. To be fair theirs is simplistic because they just haven’t invested enough to have the processes to do that, which I think is fair enough, but it’d have been great if they had.

sydthebeat

it warms the cockles of my heart to hear Stephen Jones whinge like a spoilt child who isnt allowed any sweets

171170

2smiggy wrote: »

A bit like the Melbourne Storm team of 10 years ago. With the salary cap they still managed to put a super team together. Of course they were found out, and stripped of 2 titles. Why not something similar happening to Saracens ?

Presumably because the Premiership Rules - as agreed to by all 13 member clubs - don't allow for it.

2smiggy

Just listened to the Times podcast. Is it an act with Jones, or is he that delusional??!?

Dog Botherer

2smiggy wrote: »

Just listened to the Times podcast. Is it an act with Jones, or is he that delusional??!?

i regret to inform you that it is not an act, and these are his sincere opinions.

prawnsambo

Saracens putting out nearly a full strength team against Bath.

Cookiemunster

They were never going to do anything else. The question will be how strong their team is in Limerick next week.

conor678

Watching the Northampton Leicester game. The tigers have been terrible. They've been in a bad way for a couple of seasons now. Can't see Murphy lasting the full season incharge.

On the other side of it Northampton play some good rugby

Tigerandahalf

I see Ian Madigan has a lot of competition at 10 for Bristol. He has yet to feature this season. Didn't realise the other 2 guys are Welsh but one of them could play for Ireland too.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/500000-year-international-forced-play-17361451

Squidgy Black

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I see Ian Madigan has a lot of competition at 10 for Bristol. He has yet to feature this season. Didn't realise the other 2 guys are Welsh but one of them could play for Ireland too.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/500000-year-international-forced-play-17361451

Sheedy's been the prospect for quite a bit now for Bristol, Mads was splitting game time with him from the start of I remember correctly. He played underage for Wales then pulled out of an U20 game against France last minute when he heard it would tie him to Wales, was called up into the England squad for the BaaBaas game earlier this year, looks to be the direction he's going to push on with.

Dog Botherer

Madigan is reportedly on far too much money to be lining out for the B team and might well be on the way out. not inconceivable he returns to Ireland.

Tigerandahalf

His contract is up at the end of the year. Ulster might be his only hope with the other provinces well served. He will end up at another English club. His goalkicking stats are good enough to attract a club.

irishbucsfan

He’d struggle to start at any of the provinces

OldRio

Quinn's v Leicester live on Channel 5 at 4.30 today.
Yup I'm bored.

RugbyLover123

Brain dead from Joe Marler there. Hasn’t given his team a chance in this game now..

Burkie1203

Have Tigers installed a screen in front of the coaches area since Geordans row with a fan recently?

I think Madigan is on the bench today for once. Not sure he's played yet this season.

Squidgy Black

Aniya Enough Tequila wrote: »

I think Madigan is on the bench today for once. Not sure he's played yet this season.

Nope hasn't gotten a single minute ahead of Sheedy or Lloyd, was playing for their A team for a couple of games.

Funny old game. Leicester had a handy lead, Bristol score and convert, then run the pitch directly from the restart to score again. Wasn't even a tackle completed or a ruck, went the length of the field. No conversion but 12 points scored in about 90 seconds and game on again.

Squidgy Black

Another loss for London Irish and Leicester picking up a win means there's now only two points between the two teams, and LI have Northampton away for their next Premiership game, then Quins and Gloucester, whereas Leicester have Bath then Wasps, so good chance they'll end up at the bottom of the table by the end of February.

Jackson's out with a hamstring injury, hasn't played at 10 since their win against Wasps mid October, had a couple of starts at 15.

prawnsambo

Saracens new (old) boss Edward Griffiths talking about immediate salary and/or job cuts to meet the salary cap as early as possible this season.

Squidgy Black

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Another loss for London Irish and Leicester picking up a win means there's now only two points between the two teams, and LI have Northampton away for their next Premiership game, then Quins and Gloucester, whereas Leicester have Bath then Wasps, so good chance they'll end up at the bottom of the table by the end of February.

Jackson's out with a hamstring injury, hasn't played at 10 since their win against Wasps mid October, had a couple of starts at 15.

I've watched bits of LI and Leicester's last few games and LI really look poor, which Leicester are definitely improving now all their RWC players are properly back. They lost Ford, Youngs, Tuilagi, May, Cole all to the RWC. On their current trajectories I definitely think Leicester will finish ahead of LI.

prawnsambo

Also on the subject of Saracens, Exeter have said that the £350,000 they will get as their share of the Saracen's fine is going to charity.

Squidgy Black

prawnsambo wrote: »

Saracens new (old) boss Edward Griffiths talking about immediate salary and/or job cuts to meet the salary cap as early as possible this season.

Interesting, before Christmas Wray was insistent that they were in regulation of the salary cap for this season, I'd say Griffiths must be getting some wage to be the hit man for all that's to come.

jr86

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Another loss for London Irish and Leicester picking up a win means there's now only two points between the two teams, and LI have Northampton away for their next Premiership game, then Quins and Gloucester, whereas Leicester have Bath then Wasps, so good chance they'll end up at the bottom of the table by the end of February.

Jackson's out with a hamstring injury, hasn't played at 10 since their win against Wasps mid October, had a couple of starts at 15.

Relegation for LI would be a disaster for Jackson. A second relegation in a row and as you say he hasn't even been first choice 10 for LI - hardly will have teams banging on his door, and that's not to mention all the baggage he carries.

I really couldn't see a Premiership Team signing him, I think he'd have no choice but to slug it out in the Championship and hope they bounce straight back up - which they surely would in fairness, but hardly ideal playing Championship rugby when pushing 30

Cookiemunster

Rugbypass reporting that George Kruis is off to Japan this summer. The first of the big England names to go?

conor678

Interesting. Also strong rumours of Liam Williams heading back to Scarlets before the end of the season. Be interesting what else comes out of all this salary cap stuff and who else will have to leave to balance the books

Cookiemunster

conor678 wrote: »

Interesting. Also strong rumours of Liam Williams heading back to Scarlets before the end of the season. Be interesting what else comes out of all this salary cap stuff and who else will have to leave to balance the books

Liam Williams to Scarlets was officially announced over Christmas. Whether he leaves early or not is moot seeing as he's out injured for most of the season.

Whitters22

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Liam Williams to Scarlets was officially announced over Christmas. Whether he leaves early or not is moot seeing as he's out injured for most of the season.

According to the 42 podcast he won't actually count towards the salary cap this year if he doesn't feature at all. Sounds odd but may be the reason behind cutting him early.

sydthebeat

According to the new saracens chief exec. On the greenwood podcast, once the team is in compliance on June 19 (I think its the date) then that's all that matters. It worth listening to